POS0194-PARE PEOPLE WITH AN RMD: MAKING A MEDICATION CHOICE TOGETHER WITH THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Authors: P. Borsje, P. Pennings, B. Maat, R. Van der Knaap, D. Lewinski, H. Van de Weijer, T. Foekens, L. J. Kranenburg - van Koppen, A. Pasma, G. Willemsen- de Mey
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Research shows that people with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs), who decide together with their healthcare professionals make better informed treatment choices. They are also more likely to adhere to their treatment or medication use. A conversation aid can help people with an RMD to become aware of their most important preferences and questions about medication. These preferences and questions can set the agenda for a good conversation in the consultation room between the patient and the healthcare professional. Together with the healthcare professional the conversation can focus on the most important benefits, risks and preferences of someone with an RMD, when a medication choice has to be made. <h3>Objectives:</h3> •To develop conversation aids, that: • oallow people with an RMD to become aware of the most important preferences in making a medication choice • oguide people with an RMD in how to discuss these most important aspects with a healthcare professional •To develop conversation aids that guide healthcare professionals in giving complete information about: • oall important aspects of the medication • ohaving a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) This in order to make the best fitting medication choice together. <h3>Methods</h3> In the first step of the process 2 focus groups were organized. The first focus group consisted of patients of the Erasmus Medical Centre (5 participants) and patient research partners (PRPs) of the National Association ReumaZorg Nederland (RZN) (4 participants). The second focus group consisted of RMD health care professionals (5 rheumatologists, 1 pharmacist, 7 RMD nurses). The aim of the focus groups was to get an overview of important information that has to be shared, when a choice in RMD medication is to be made. In the second step, the output of both focus groups formed the starting point for the content of the conversation aids about medication choices. In the conversation aids all important information, that should be shared when a medication choice has to be made, was formulated in simple short sentences. After that, the content of the conversation aids was assessed by participants of both focus groups. In the third step, a draft version of the conversation aids about medication choices was designed. The conversation aids were designed using the same layout as our earlier developed conversation aids 'What is important to you and how can you talk about this?'. This draft version was again evaluated by participants of both focus groups, until we reached a final version. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 4 conversation aids (https://reumazorgnederland.nl/samen-beslissen-medicijnkaarten/) were developed. •<b>Who are you?:</b> To allow people with an RMD to share their preferences with regards to shared decision making (SDM), about the way they like to receive information and about the way they prefer to take their medication. •<b>About medication</b>: To allow healthcare professionals to give a complete overview of the most important aspects of RMD medication and to allow people with an RMD to share their most important questions about RMD medication. •<b>Groups of medication</b>: To give an overview of the different groups of RMD medications. •<b>About arthritis:</b> To give an overview of the most important aspects of having an RMD. The 5<sup>th</sup> developed conversation aid (https://reumazorgnederland.nl/samen-beslissen-medicijnkaarten/) focused on reliable sources for information. •<b>More information:</b> A conversation aid with reliable sources to obtain more information about shared decision making, about having a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) and about RMD medication. <h3>Example of the first part of conversation aid 'Who are you?'</h3> <h3>Conclusion</h3> These conversation aids can encourage and advance a good conversation about RMD medication, that best fits the patient's need and preferences, when having an RMD. They stimulate both the patient as well as the healthcare professional to share much-needed information, when making a choice in medication. A patient organisation can play an important role in developing a conversation aid to support patients. <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> A special word of gratitude goes out to the patient research partners who contributed to the patient perspective in this project by either being part of the working group or by sharing their perspectives in the focus group. Our gratitude also goes out to all the RMD professionals who shared their opinion in the focusgroup. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.